AC leak causing black spots and smell: DIY or professional?« Back to Previous Page

Based on the symptoms you've described—persistent AC leak, visible black spots, and a strong damp odor—this is a textbook scenario for significant mold growth, likely Aspergillus or Cladosporium, which are extremely common here due to our high humidity. The vinegar wipe is a common DIY attempt, but it's a surface-level fix that doesn't address the root cause or the mycotoxins present.

In the UAE, the primary risk is that this moisture has almost certainly infiltrated the carpet underlay and potentially the subflooring, creating a hidden reservoir for mold that you cannot see. The smell when the AC kicks on is a major red flag; it indicates that the mold colonization is being aerosolized and distributed throughout your apartment's air, posing a respiratory health risk.

Given the duration (a couple of weeks) and the visible spread, a professional inspection is strongly advised. DIY cleaning, even with "proper" cleaners, will not remediate the hidden contamination or identify the exact extent. We follow strict DM and Dubai Municipality guidelines for assessment and remediation to ensure the problem is solved correctly and to prevent recurrence, which is a high risk with partial fixes.

For a situation like this in JVC, we recommend calling in a specialist to conduct a proper moisture mapping and air quality test. Please call our team at 800-MOLDS (800-66537) or email hello@saniservice.com for an assessment. It's better to identify the full scope now than to have a much larger, costlier problem later.